New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays: MLB Betting Odds and Predictions

The New York Yankees (48-31) and Tampa Bay Rays (42-38) will continue an important American League East series on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 ET

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

New York Yankees All-Star 2B Robinson Cano figures to stay hot against Tampa Bay's James Shields on Tuesday night

New York has now lost eight straight games inside this venue, dropping a 4-3 contest to Tampa Bay in the series opener on Monday night, with first baseman Mark Teixeira picking the wrong time to collect his first error of the season. “The ball obviously didn’t do what I expected it to do,” stated Teixeira after the game. Offensively, second baseman Robinson Cano figures to remain hot, batting .415 during his career against tonight’s opposing starter. New York is 9-4 on the road with a money line of -100 to -125, with the “under” going 8-5 in those contests.

Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova (9-2, 4.03 ERA) enters with a personal five-game win streak, as he didn’t factor into the decision of a 4-3 home setback to the Chicago White Sox last time out, giving up one run and six hits over 7.1 innings. The right-hander is 6-0 with a 3.44 ERA in eight road outings this year, with opposing hitters batting just .209 against him. In six career starts versus the Rays, Nova has compiled a 4-0 record and 2.82 ERA, including a 4-1 home win on June 6.

Tampa Bay desperately needed the victory, moving within 6.5 games of New York In the AL East division standings, while improving its home mark to 4-0 in the 2012 season series. The Rays have won their four home games against the Bronx Bombers by a combined margin of seven runs, so the room for error is little if they wish to continue that type of success. Tampa Bay is a dismal 3-7 at home with a money line of -100 to -125, with the “under” going 25-10 in that situation since the 2010 campaign.

Rays starting pitcher James Shields (7-5, 4.04 ERA) has watched the club drop five of his last six outings, including a 5-2 home loss to the Detroit Tigers, allowing four runs and a season-high 14 hits in 7.2 innings of work. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA in eight home outings, issuing 16 walks and collecting 58 strikeouts in 53.2 frames. In 23 career games versus the Yankees, Shields has produced a 5-13 record and 4.55 ERA, including a 7-0 road loss on June 5.